Approved by Alexwolf
Serperior
Typing: Grass
Ability: Overgrow/CONTRARY
Stats: 75/75/95/75/95/113
Notable Moves (STAB in italics):
Leaf Storm
Leech Seed
Giga Drain
Taunt
Reflect
Light Screen
Substitute
Toxic
Dragon Tail
Glare
Dragon Pulse
Knock Off
Synthesis
Analysis
After four years of waiting, Serperior is finally excited to see its beloved Dream World ability being confirmed for event release! With Contrary, Leaf Storm essentially becomes a free Nasty Plot with every use and makes the smug snake threatening against any opposing Pokemon that dares to stand against it. Along with having a great base 113 speed and useful options such as Glare, Knock Off, etc, Serperior is a notable Pokemon to be ready against.
Unfortunately there are many problems that plague Serperior. The grass starter is heavily reliant on Leaf Storm boosts in order to accomplish any sweeping, which means that prominent OU resists such as Flying-types like Mega Pinsir and Talonflame and Fire-Types like Heatran and Mega-Charizard X/Y can switch in, resist Serperior's signature Leaf Storm, and can use their STAB moves to immediately threaten the smug snake. Additionally, its offensive movepool is like finding an oasis in a desert, because the only special moves that it can effectively use are Leaf Storm, Giga Drain, Dragon Pulse, and Hidden Power (depending on that Hidden Power, you can still get walled by the appropriate checks/counters).
Pros
Serperior
Typing: Grass
Ability: Overgrow/CONTRARY
Stats: 75/75/95/75/95/113
Notable Moves (STAB in italics):
Leaf Storm
Leech Seed
Giga Drain
Taunt
Reflect
Light Screen
Substitute
Toxic
Dragon Tail
Glare
Dragon Pulse
Knock Off
Synthesis
Analysis
After four years of waiting, Serperior is finally excited to see its beloved Dream World ability being confirmed for event release! With Contrary, Leaf Storm essentially becomes a free Nasty Plot with every use and makes the smug snake threatening against any opposing Pokemon that dares to stand against it. Along with having a great base 113 speed and useful options such as Glare, Knock Off, etc, Serperior is a notable Pokemon to be ready against.
Unfortunately there are many problems that plague Serperior. The grass starter is heavily reliant on Leaf Storm boosts in order to accomplish any sweeping, which means that prominent OU resists such as Flying-types like Mega Pinsir and Talonflame and Fire-Types like Heatran and Mega-Charizard X/Y can switch in, resist Serperior's signature Leaf Storm, and can use their STAB moves to immediately threaten the smug snake. Additionally, its offensive movepool is like finding an oasis in a desert, because the only special moves that it can effectively use are Leaf Storm, Giga Drain, Dragon Pulse, and Hidden Power (depending on that Hidden Power, you can still get walled by the appropriate checks/counters).
Pros
- Contrary Leaf Storm is a Nasty Plot nuke
- Fearsome self-boosting wall breaker if left unattended
- Base 113 Speed allows it to outspeed a majority of the metagame outside of
Greninja(RIP Smogon Amphibian) and priority - Access to Glare allows it to paralyze Mega Sceptile and Ground-type friends
- Other valid options such as Taunt and Knock Off makes it disruptive towards switch-ins
- Contrary allows you to switch into Sticky Web and Defog and get some speed/evasion hax and other shenanigans
- Does not take up a Mega Slot
- It's Smuglord
Cons
- Base 75 Sp. Attack is basically tickle damage unless you acquire sufficient Leaf Storm boosts
- Offensive Movepool is limited to Dragon Pulse and Hidden Power
- Extremely reliant on Team Support to be effective
- Pure Grass-type makes it easy for Flying, Steel, and Fire-types to threaten it. Additionally, Grass STAB is resisted by a lot of common types.
- Leaf Storm has only 8 PP and Serperior becomes significantly weaker once it's depleted
- Faces competition with Mega Sceptile for a Grass-type attacker, who has better STABs and other offensive options
- It's not as cool as Marshtomp's stare
Possible Sets
Life Orb Attacker:
Serperior w/ Life Orb
Ability: Contrary
EVs: 16 Def/ 252 Sp. Atk/ 244 Speed
IVs: 29 HP
Timid Nature
- Leaf Storm
- Dragon Pulse
- Hidden Power (Fire/Rock/Ground)
- Substitute/Glare/Knock Off/Giga Drain
Using Life Orb, Serperior has the capability to inflict respectable damage to its enemies. Depending on the Hidden Power used, 244/240 Speed allows it to outspeed Thundurus-I. Leaf Storm is the obligatory STAB due to Contrary giving it a +2 with every use. Dragon Pulse is Serperior's secondary attack that allows it to threaten Dragon-type switch-ins that resist Leaf Storm such as Mega Charizard-X and the Lati twins:
+2 252 SpA Life Orb Serperior Dragon Pulse vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Mega Charizard Y: 148-175 (49.8 - 58.9%) -- 93.8% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock
+2 252 SpA Life Orb Serperior Dragon Pulse vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Latias: 265-315 (88 - 104.6%) -- guaranteed OHKO after Stealth Rock
Because Serperior's offensive movepool is extremely small, the Hidden Power listed determines what Serperior wants to threaten and what enemies can wall it. HP Fire allows Serperior to damage Steel-types such as (Mega) Scizor and Ferrothorn, but turns you into Heatran bait. HP Rock can let Serperior to surprise Mega-Pinsir, Talonflame, Mega-Charizard Y, and other Flying-types, but this leaves you walled by Steel-types. HP Ground gives Serperior the power to muscle through Heatran while holding coverage against other Fire and Steel-types, but you'll be at the mercy of Flying-type terrors. Finally, Serperior's fourth moveset can make use of its versatile support moves. Substitute allows Serperior to avoid crippling status and priority attacks while allowing it to safely fire off Leaf Storms, Glare gives Serperior the ability to paralyze Ground-types, Mega Sceptile, and other threats, and Knock-Off allows the smug snake to cripple potential switch-ins by removing their items. Giga Drain can also be used in conjunction with Leaf Storm boosts to recover Life Orb recoil and maintain longevity.
Bulky Status Attacker:
Serperior w/ Leftovers
Ability: Contrary
EVs: 252 HP/ 16 Def/ 240 Speed
Timid Nature
- Leaf Storm
- Glare/Toxic
- Leech Seed/Synthesis/Giga Drain
- Dragon Pulse/Knock Off/Taunt/Substitute
This set allows Serperior to make use of its decent 75/95/95 bulk along with its high speed to spread status against your opponent. Leaf Storm is Serperior's boosting nuke and is strong against Pokemon that don't resist it. The second slot can alternate between which status you want to spread. Glare allows Serperior to paralyze opposing Pokemon and is notable for being able to hit Ground-types such as Excadrill, Landorus-T, and Garchomp while Toxic can be used to poison walls or set-up sweepers that are willing to switch into the grass serpent. The third slot is your choice of recovery: Leech Seed allows you to passively sap health from enemies, Synthesis provides instant recovery (provided there's no non-sunny weather involved), and Giga Drain can be used in conjunction with Leaf Storm to damage foes and recover health (increasing thanks to Contrary Leaf Storm's +2 boosts). Finally, the last slot is mainly what option you find the most comfortable. Dragon Pulse allows Serperior to gain decent coverage and allows it to hit those that resist its STAB bar Steel and Fairy-types. Knock Off and Taunt provide utility by crippling status-users or those reliant on their items. Finally, Substitute gives Serperior extra protection against status and priority while allowing it to safely spam Leaf Storms.
Dual Screens:
Serperior w/ Light Clay
Ability: Contrary
EVs: 252 HP/ 16 Def/ 240 Speed
Timid Nature
- Leaf Storm
- Reflect
- Light Screen
- Synthesis/Knock Off/Glare
With base 113 speed and respectavle 75/95/95 bulk, Serperior can pull a Dual Screens set while maintaining it's niche with Contrary Leaf Storm attacks. Leaf Storm is Serperior's STAB of choice that grants +2 thanks to its ability and ensure that you're not complete Taunt-bait. Reflect and Light Screen are the stars of this set as each respective screen provides a useful defensive buff for Serperior and its team. The final option is left for preference: Synthesis provides Serperior with longevity and allows it to continue supporting its team with mid-late game Dual Screens. Knock Off is a great tool for crippling switch-ins and Glare gives Serperior paralysis support and stops set-up sweepers and other speedy threats in their tracks.
Other Options
A Choice set can be usable with Scarf/Specs to outspeed faster threats or inflict huge damage from the beginning, but it becomes easy to switch into Serperior and being choice-locked into other moves means that essentially anyone can switch in and force it out or set-up. Additionally, Assault Vest can be used to give Serperior extra Sp. Def bulk and allows it more comfortably switch into Special Attackers and sponge Draco Meteors, but you'll lose out of Serperior's utility, especially Substitute, Taunt, and Glare. Dragon Tail can be used to phaze non-Fairy switch-ins and rack up hazard damage. Taunt is also usable for stopping healing, incoming status afflictions, or set-up hazard/boosting shenanigans, such as Chansey, Ferrothorn, Skarmory, and Unaware Clefable.
Team Options
Serperior appreciates entry hazards such as Stealth Rock to weaken switch-ins, especially its Flying-type enemies. Fast or bulky VoltTurn users such as Rotom-W, Landorus-T, Scizor, Mega Manectric, etc. can give Serperior additional options to safely switch in and wreck havoc. Rotom-W is also notable for covering the grass serpent's exploitable weaknesses thanks to its typing. Additionally, Trappers such as Dugtrio and Magnezone are appreciated because they can remove Steel-types and grounded foes that stand in Serperior's way.
Checks and Counters
Basically, those that can cushion Serperior's Leaf Storms and have forms of power or priority can immediately KO, threaten, or severally damage it back. Flying and Fire-types such as Talonflame, Mega Charizard X, and Mega Pinsir can 4x resist its STAB and can KO back with their own STAB moves. Although it must watch out for HP Ground, Heatran resists all of Serperior's other offensive options and can threaten it back with Fire Blast or Lava Plume respectively (Scarftran can outspeed and eliminate Serperior before it can act). If Heatran is Specially Defensive, +2 HP Ground fails to even KO. Thundurus-I and Klefki can switch in and cripple non-Substitute Serperiors with priority Thunder Wave (Thundurus can also cripple Serperior's status options with its own priority Taunt), ruining its offensive potential. With its impressive bulk, Mega Altaria can switch into Serperior, set up Dragon Dances, and can even use refresh to remove paralysis, but the cotton bird must be wary of repeated Leaf Storms. Additionally due to its reliance on Hidden Power, Serperior can get walled by a varying set of Pokemon that resist its attacks. Finally, status-afflicting moves such as Thunder-Wave and Toxic can severally limit Serperior and thus it must always be on the look-out for them.
This is my first real Pokemon-forum related post on Smogon and I would appreciate any responses, new ideas, and other helpful suggestions. Thanks for reading! :)
Life Orb Attacker:
Serperior w/ Life Orb
Ability: Contrary
EVs: 16 Def/ 252 Sp. Atk/ 244 Speed
IVs: 29 HP
Timid Nature
- Leaf Storm
- Dragon Pulse
- Hidden Power (Fire/Rock/Ground)
- Substitute/Glare/Knock Off/Giga Drain
Using Life Orb, Serperior has the capability to inflict respectable damage to its enemies. Depending on the Hidden Power used, 244/240 Speed allows it to outspeed Thundurus-I. Leaf Storm is the obligatory STAB due to Contrary giving it a +2 with every use. Dragon Pulse is Serperior's secondary attack that allows it to threaten Dragon-type switch-ins that resist Leaf Storm such as Mega Charizard-X and the Lati twins:
+2 252 SpA Life Orb Serperior Dragon Pulse vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Mega Charizard Y: 148-175 (49.8 - 58.9%) -- 93.8% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock
+2 252 SpA Life Orb Serperior Dragon Pulse vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Latias: 265-315 (88 - 104.6%) -- guaranteed OHKO after Stealth Rock
Because Serperior's offensive movepool is extremely small, the Hidden Power listed determines what Serperior wants to threaten and what enemies can wall it. HP Fire allows Serperior to damage Steel-types such as (Mega) Scizor and Ferrothorn, but turns you into Heatran bait. HP Rock can let Serperior to surprise Mega-Pinsir, Talonflame, Mega-Charizard Y, and other Flying-types, but this leaves you walled by Steel-types. HP Ground gives Serperior the power to muscle through Heatran while holding coverage against other Fire and Steel-types, but you'll be at the mercy of Flying-type terrors. Finally, Serperior's fourth moveset can make use of its versatile support moves. Substitute allows Serperior to avoid crippling status and priority attacks while allowing it to safely fire off Leaf Storms, Glare gives Serperior the ability to paralyze Ground-types, Mega Sceptile, and other threats, and Knock-Off allows the smug snake to cripple potential switch-ins by removing their items. Giga Drain can also be used in conjunction with Leaf Storm boosts to recover Life Orb recoil and maintain longevity.
Bulky Status Attacker:
Serperior w/ Leftovers
Ability: Contrary
EVs: 252 HP/ 16 Def/ 240 Speed
Timid Nature
- Leaf Storm
- Glare/Toxic
- Leech Seed/Synthesis/Giga Drain
- Dragon Pulse/Knock Off/Taunt/Substitute
This set allows Serperior to make use of its decent 75/95/95 bulk along with its high speed to spread status against your opponent. Leaf Storm is Serperior's boosting nuke and is strong against Pokemon that don't resist it. The second slot can alternate between which status you want to spread. Glare allows Serperior to paralyze opposing Pokemon and is notable for being able to hit Ground-types such as Excadrill, Landorus-T, and Garchomp while Toxic can be used to poison walls or set-up sweepers that are willing to switch into the grass serpent. The third slot is your choice of recovery: Leech Seed allows you to passively sap health from enemies, Synthesis provides instant recovery (provided there's no non-sunny weather involved), and Giga Drain can be used in conjunction with Leaf Storm to damage foes and recover health (increasing thanks to Contrary Leaf Storm's +2 boosts). Finally, the last slot is mainly what option you find the most comfortable. Dragon Pulse allows Serperior to gain decent coverage and allows it to hit those that resist its STAB bar Steel and Fairy-types. Knock Off and Taunt provide utility by crippling status-users or those reliant on their items. Finally, Substitute gives Serperior extra protection against status and priority while allowing it to safely spam Leaf Storms.
Dual Screens:
Serperior w/ Light Clay
Ability: Contrary
EVs: 252 HP/ 16 Def/ 240 Speed
Timid Nature
- Leaf Storm
- Reflect
- Light Screen
- Synthesis/Knock Off/Glare
With base 113 speed and respectavle 75/95/95 bulk, Serperior can pull a Dual Screens set while maintaining it's niche with Contrary Leaf Storm attacks. Leaf Storm is Serperior's STAB of choice that grants +2 thanks to its ability and ensure that you're not complete Taunt-bait. Reflect and Light Screen are the stars of this set as each respective screen provides a useful defensive buff for Serperior and its team. The final option is left for preference: Synthesis provides Serperior with longevity and allows it to continue supporting its team with mid-late game Dual Screens. Knock Off is a great tool for crippling switch-ins and Glare gives Serperior paralysis support and stops set-up sweepers and other speedy threats in their tracks.
Other Options
A Choice set can be usable with Scarf/Specs to outspeed faster threats or inflict huge damage from the beginning, but it becomes easy to switch into Serperior and being choice-locked into other moves means that essentially anyone can switch in and force it out or set-up. Additionally, Assault Vest can be used to give Serperior extra Sp. Def bulk and allows it more comfortably switch into Special Attackers and sponge Draco Meteors, but you'll lose out of Serperior's utility, especially Substitute, Taunt, and Glare. Dragon Tail can be used to phaze non-Fairy switch-ins and rack up hazard damage. Taunt is also usable for stopping healing, incoming status afflictions, or set-up hazard/boosting shenanigans, such as Chansey, Ferrothorn, Skarmory, and Unaware Clefable.
Team Options
Serperior appreciates entry hazards such as Stealth Rock to weaken switch-ins, especially its Flying-type enemies. Fast or bulky VoltTurn users such as Rotom-W, Landorus-T, Scizor, Mega Manectric, etc. can give Serperior additional options to safely switch in and wreck havoc. Rotom-W is also notable for covering the grass serpent's exploitable weaknesses thanks to its typing. Additionally, Trappers such as Dugtrio and Magnezone are appreciated because they can remove Steel-types and grounded foes that stand in Serperior's way.
Checks and Counters
Basically, those that can cushion Serperior's Leaf Storms and have forms of power or priority can immediately KO, threaten, or severally damage it back. Flying and Fire-types such as Talonflame, Mega Charizard X, and Mega Pinsir can 4x resist its STAB and can KO back with their own STAB moves. Although it must watch out for HP Ground, Heatran resists all of Serperior's other offensive options and can threaten it back with Fire Blast or Lava Plume respectively (Scarftran can outspeed and eliminate Serperior before it can act). If Heatran is Specially Defensive, +2 HP Ground fails to even KO. Thundurus-I and Klefki can switch in and cripple non-Substitute Serperiors with priority Thunder Wave (Thundurus can also cripple Serperior's status options with its own priority Taunt), ruining its offensive potential. With its impressive bulk, Mega Altaria can switch into Serperior, set up Dragon Dances, and can even use refresh to remove paralysis, but the cotton bird must be wary of repeated Leaf Storms. Additionally due to its reliance on Hidden Power, Serperior can get walled by a varying set of Pokemon that resist its attacks. Finally, status-afflicting moves such as Thunder-Wave and Toxic can severally limit Serperior and thus it must always be on the look-out for them.
This is my first real Pokemon-forum related post on Smogon and I would appreciate any responses, new ideas, and other helpful suggestions. Thanks for reading! :)
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